Amplifying Frontline Resistance to Protect Forests and Human Rights

That paper you’re using? That rayon shirt you’re wearing? Both are made from trees. After years of campaigning, many corporations have committed to eliminate forest destruction and human rights abuses from their business. Despite these promises, hundreds of communities are still suffering the impacts of having their traditional forests and lands seized and cleared for industrial pulp plantations. Together, we demand more than paper promises.
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Across Indonesia and the world, frontline communities are still fighting to get their lands back, to have their forests protected, and to have their culture and rights respected. The images and interviews below are from the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, in the villages of Lubuk Mandarsah, Op. Bolus, and Aek Lung. These are only a subset of villages that have been negatively impacted by Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), APRIL, Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), and other companies that have adopted strong policies that should—if properly implemented—protect communities and forests.

The lived experiences in these communities are the true measure of whether or not companies are keeping their promises. Read the latest investigative report here, then join us in learning from their stories, and take action to demand that companies keep their promises to frontline communities!
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“We are ready to defend our land to our very last breath, because this land is our life.”

- Abson Lumban Batu, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For generations, Indigenous Batak communities have planted benzoin trees in the forests on their traditionally-owned lands and have sustainably harvested the tree’s resin for an incense similar to frankincense. For many this is a significant cultural practice and the primary source of cash income. Pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) has taken over many of the benzoin forests clearing them for eucalyptus pulp plantations, directly threatening the livelihoods of many communities.

Photo of Op Grace Boru Siregar, in the benzoin tree forest on her traditionally-owned land in Onan Harbangan Nagasaribu. Op Grace is one of the few women who harvest benzoin resin, traditionally harvested only by men.

“We ask for the government to release the traditionally-owned land to us so that the community can manage their land in peace, without any more disruptions from Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL). To all producers supplied by TPL, stop buying from TPL because they are grabbers of community lands...TPL does not create prosperity in communities, only suffering.”

- Robert Simamora, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Over three decades ago, pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took traditionally-owned land across the Lake Toba region of Indonesia from Indigenous communities without their consent. TPL transformed community land into pulp plantations used to make material for everyday fabrics like rayon, viscose, and modal.

“As farmers, our only demand to Asia Pulp & Paper is to give us a chance to manage our land. We are not out to get rich, but only to make a living and provide for our grandchildren’s future...Let’s unite our will and strength, because if all farmers unite then nothing is impossible.”

- Sadili, Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia

Since 2003, when (APP) first took community land for its plantations, local and regional farmers’ groups have organized to unite farmers to demand their rights and customary land be respected by the company.

“It saddens me to see our young man, Indra Pelani, killed viciously by Asia Pulp & Paper. I cannot and will never forgive the company for this. I feel like he was my own son-I had looked after him since he was young. The company treated him like an animal…I hope the perpetrators and company are punished justly for their actions.”

- Yulmanesni, Indra’s adopted mother

Indra Pelani, a 23-year-old activist and farmer from Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia was brutally beaten to death by APP’s pulp and paper plantation security guards on February 27, 2015. The community of Lubuk Mandarsah continues to remember and mourn his tragic loss.

“Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) stole our land and we had to leave our land. That was the source of our livelihoods. I used to farm...but the land was taken by TPL. We ask for...our land back, so that our grandchildren and future generations will have their identity.”

- Redita br Nababan, Op.Bolus, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For the people of Op.Bulus in North Sumatra, Indonesia, farming is more than a way of life, it's an act of resistance. Pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took the community’s traditionally-owned land and cut down their forest for eucalyptus plantations. After TPL harvested the eucalyptus, community members returned to the land and reclaimed it, planting their own crops before TPL could replant it with another monocrop pulp plantation.

This is a photo of raw benzoin (a resin similar to frankincense). For generations, Indigenous Batak communities have planted benzoin trees in the forests on their traditionally-owned lands and have sustainably harvested the tree’s resin for incense. For many, this a significant cultural practice and the primary source of income. Since Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took over the communities’ land for its pulp plantations, many benzoin forests have been cleared and converted to pulp plantations, directly threatening the livelihoods of many communities.

“We can see that Asia Pulp & Paper [APP] has broken their commitment. APP said that it would resolve social conflicts without violence and would respect the communities’ rights. However, we can prove that even after the commitment, the community is still intimidated, criminalized, and a murder even took place here.”

A decade ago, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), Indonesia’s largest pulp and paper company, arrived in the community of Lubuk Mandarsah. APP took over customary land from the community without their consent in order to build a pulp and paper plantation. Since then, it has been in direct conflict with the community. In February 2015, community activist and farmer Indra Pelani was brutally murdered by security guards hired by APP.

“We hope the promises will be realized. This traditionally-owned land is for the lives of our children and future generations…we are running out of living space. This traditionally-owned land is for our descendants who are still fighting for our land.”

“There are many instances of environmental degradation. In our village, mosquitos are on the rise after the plantation was planted. The environment is not as clean as it used to be. Rivers are now blocked by Asia Pulp & Paper’s operations, so the water flows poorly to our major rivers. Now massive floods come after it rains...This is why we need to clean up the river so we can have clean water for the community.”

Water systems are often heavily impacted by pulp and paper plantations. Historically, forest ecosystems have naturally filtered fresh drinking water for communities for generations. However, monocrop plantations suck up significantly more water and leave the soil barren and susceptible to erosion and flooding.

In 2013, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), Indonesia’s largest paper company, responded to years of public pressure regarding its legacy of land grabbing and human rights abuses with promises to resolve land conflicts with communities. To date, there are hundreds of community conflicts, like the conflict with Lubuk Mandarsah, that remain unresolved.

“When we farm on our land, TPL comes to harass us and threaten violence. TPL threatened me and said I cannot take this land and that I would be arrested. But I know that the land is ours so that is why I am farming here. We are not scared. We still work our farms because we know that this land is ours.”

- Abson Lumban Batu, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For the people of Aek Lung in Indonesia, farming is more than a way of life, it's an act of resistance. Pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took the communities’ traditionally-owned land and cut down their forest for eucalyptus plantations. After TPL harvested the eucalyptus, community members returned to the land and reclaimed it, planting their own crops before TPL could replant it with another monocrop pulp plantation.

“We ask the government to protect us and return our Indigenous land to us. This land is the source of our livelihoods, and our savings so that our children can go to school. We also ask the government to recognize our traditionally-owned land, so that we will not be afraid to farm our own land.”

- Rentina Nababan, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Over three decades ago, pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), took traditionally-owned land across the Lake Toba region of Indonesia from Indigenous communities without their consent. TPL transformed community land into pulp plantations used to make material for everyday fabrics like rayon, viscose, and modal.

“We are fighting for our children’s future....We fight on our own land, our own customary land. Asia Pulp & Paper should be protested for clearing the community’s land.”

- Yulmanesni, Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia

Like most communities, those impacted by industrial pulp and paper plantations have similar dreams to cultivate their land, grow food to feed their families, and provide a better future for their children. Community demands to companies like Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) center around these basic rights to dignity, land and livelihood.

“First we fought to regain our traditionally-owned land that Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took and planted for its plantation. At the time we faced much opposition and intimidation from TPL. They tried to stop us by carrying weapons and involving army and police officials. But we were not scared because we believed that we were fighting for something that is truly our right.”

- Nurmala Boru Purba, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

In 2005, the Indigenous community of Aek Lung mounted a resistance movement to reclaim their land from pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL). Community members began planting their own crops on their land after company plantations were harvested to provide for their livelihoods and feed their families.

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. Located in the middle of North Sumatra, Indonesia this fertile volcanic crater is home to Indigenous Batak communities that have been living in the region since time immemorial. This natural wonder supports a tourist economy that is threatened by deforestation and pollution from Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL).

“This land has been around for 200 years. My ancestors came here, and there have been 11 generations living here, including myself. We hope that the government will pay attention to our case, because traditionally-owned land provides life for us and our future generations, so that our children will be able to go to school, and for their lives later on.”

For the people of Lubuk Mandarsah in Indonesia, farming is more than a way of life, it's an act of resistance. Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) took the communities’ customary land and cut down their forestsfor eucalyptus plantations. After APP harvested the eucalyptus, community members returned to the land and reclaimed it, planting their crops before APP could replant it with another monocrop pulp and paper plantation.

“The women should get some credit for our work. We have been fighting from the beginning…We hope this conflict will be over soon. We want to be happy, have peace of mind and not be afraid. We just want to live and die here. We will fight on and never back down. We must fight even to the bitter end. What else are we supposed to do? We have already moved forward, why should we go back? It’s like spitting, would you lick what you have spit out? We must continue until our land is free…until we regain our rights.”

- Ibu Nurhotmahsari, Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia

Women are active in the resistance to pulp and paper companies’ land-grabbing. They play critical roles in the community’s decision making, the farming of reclaimed land, and in community healing.

“Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) adopted a new approach, promising to respect community rights but this was not implemented as a reality on the ground. The company’s new paradigm of community involvement and respecting community’s rights was only on paper. How come? Because every year, the conflicts have increased. We’re currently assisting 19 cases concerning Indigenous peoples’ rights in Batak land.”

- David Rajaguguk, organizer with KSPPM, a solidarity NGO based in the Lake Toba region of North Sumatra, Indonesia

Pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) built a pulp mill in communities near Lake Toba in the early 1980s to process timber into pulp for paper and fabric. However, the traditional landowners never gave their free, prior and informed consent or received compensation for the land on which the TPL mill is built. The mill’s pollution run-off into the local water supply has been causing illnesses in nearby communities for the last 30 years. The air pollution and smell from the mill impacts thousands of people who live nearby.

“I am fighting for our traditionally-owned land. I don’t have any other land other than this that I can live off of to provide for my family and send my children to school. I ask the government to pay attention to our cause, so that our traditionally-owned land can be returned to us, so that our children can attend school. And to Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), don’t bother us anymore.”

- Abson Lumban Batu, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Over 30 years ago, land was taken from Indigenous communities and given to pulp and paper corporations. To this day, Indigenous Batak communities continue to demand that the government and corporations return their traditionally-owned land, which is inextricably linked to their cultural survival.

“This land is our life and the lives of our future grandchildren. We are campaigning so that people will stop buying Toba Pulp Lestari’s (TPL) products, because TPL has stolen our rights and our traditionally-owned land.”

- Kristina br Hutabarat, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For the people of Aek Lung in Indonesia, farming is more than a way of life; it's an act of resistance. Pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took the communities’ land and cut down their forest for eucalyptus plantations. After TPL harvested the eucalyptus, community members returned to the land and reclaimed it, planting their own crops before TPL could replant it with another monocrop pulp plantation.

“Asia Pulp & Paper [APP] cleared the forest to build roads so it could transport timber out of the area. But once the road was put in, the community and their farms were cleared as well. The impact was so significant that their cultivated land and plants were also destroyed by the company. APP has torn the social fabric of the community, and erased their identity as a farming community.”

Heavy logging trucks regularly cut through rural communities to haul off harvested timber from pulp and paper plantations. These trucks tear up the roads and are dangerous for villagers on foot and motorbike.

“We have managed this traditionally-owned forest since the Dutch colonial times. To this day, we still practice the traditional law that has been passed on by our ancestors. Traditionally-owned land is tuduh anak tuduh tuduh tano, or in other words, ‘for us to care for on behalf of our children.’ Let’s protect our traditionally-owned land so that in the future our children can also live off and protect the land. The land is our life.”

Over 30 years ago, land was taken from Indigenous communities and given to pulp and paper corporations with the promise that it would one day be returned. To this day, many Batak Indigenous communities continue to demand that the government and corporations return their traditionally-owned land which is inextricably linked to their cultural survival.

“We are fighting for our traditionally-owned land. We will continue to fight but have yet to see any results. We want to get our land back so we can live off our land.”

- Jimmy Simanjuntak, Nagasaribu, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For generations, Indigenous Batak communities have planted endemic benzoin (a resin similar to frankincense) trees in the forests on their traditionally-owned lands and have sustainably harvested the tree’s resin for incense. For many community members, this is a significant cultural practice and the primary source of their income. Pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) has taken over many of the benzoin forests, clearing them for eucalyptus pulp plantations and directly threatening the livelihoods of many communities.

“After the trees were cut down and replaced with eucalyptus plantations, the benzoin tree resin yield decreased and eventually we stopped collecting benzoin resin because Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) intimidated us. We ask that we can work on our land to make a living and provide education for our children.”

- Sarip Simamora, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For generations, Indigenous Batak communities have planted benzoin trees in the forests on their traditionally-owned lands and have sustainably harvested the tree’s resin for an incense similar to frankincense. For many, this is a significant cultural practice and the primary source of income. Since pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took over communities’ land for its pulp plantation, many benzoin trees have been cut down, directly threatening the livelihoods of many communities.

Photo of Onan Harbangan from Nagasaribu with a benzoin tree sapling ready for planting in the forest.

“One day Toba Pulp Lestari’s (TPL) management came as we were working on our farm and yelled at us, saying that we could not farm here and that the land is not ours. I replied that we are working in our ancestors’ land, not the company land. TPL threatened us and said, if you still farm here I will report you to the police and put you in jail. So I replied, we will see who is right. God knows who is the rightful land owner.”

- Suddung Simamora, Aek Lung, Indonesia

Mr. Simamora was arrested on false charges under the direction of pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL). The community responded with an emergency rally at the local police station. TPL has used intimidation and criminalization tactics against communities, including threats from armed police and military, killing crops, burning down farming huts, and arresting farmers.

“We are the heirs of this Indigenous land. We know this farmland is inherited from our ancestors and we are their descendants. It is because we know the land was passed on by our ancestors that we farm here, for our livelihood and to send our children to school.”

- Abson Lumban Batu, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For the people of Aek Lung in North Sumatra, farming is more than a way of life, it's an act of resistance. Pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took the communities’ traditionally-owned land and cut down their forest for eucalyptus plantations. After TPL harvested the eucalyptus, community members returned to the land and reclaimed it, planting their own crops before TPL could replant it with another monocrop pulp plantation.

Photo of Ama Raja Medang Simamora traditional community from Aek Lung on their farmland.

“The commitments Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) announced in February 2013 attracted worldwide attention, but the company...is covered in blood and has numerous conflicts in many places…The companies with commitments must respect Indigenous people and their land, and resolve any conflicts. But most importantly, they must ensure that the processes are conducted fairly, and that the community can gain access to the land they claim as their customary land.”

In 2013, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) responded to years of public pressure regarding its legacy of land grabbing and human rights abuses and promised to resolve land conflicts with communities. To date, there are hundreds of community conflicts like those with Lubuk Mandarsah that remain unresolved.

“We implore the government of Indonesia to make Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) give us back our 2,000 hectares of traditionally-owned land controlled by TPL, because the land is our life, and in Nagasaribu the land is the flesh of our ancestors.”

- Toni Simanjuntak, Nagasaribu, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Over 30 years ago, land was taken from Indigenous communities and given to pulp and paper corporations with the promise that it would one day be returned. To this day, many Batak Indigenous communities continue to demand that the government and corporations return their traditionally-owned land which is inextricably linked to their cultural survival.

“The community has lived in the area for a long time, and they have their own systems in place and ways of taking back and cultivating their land...The commitment made by Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) must have follow-through on the ground. I have not seen it going well on the ground. I agree with the farmers that they need land for their lives.”

In 2013, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) responded to years of public pressure regarding its legacy of land grabbing and human rights abuses and promised to resolve land conflicts with communities. To date, there are hundreds of community conflicts like those with Lubuk Mandarsah that remain unresolved.

“The community knows that this is their land, even without the support of the government, police, and others. The community took the initiative to occupy the land for their survival because they know it is their right. The community, especially the farmers, know that they will not survive without their land. That is why fighting for their land means fighting for their lives.”

- Sadili, Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia

For the people of Lubuk Mandarsah, farming is more than a way of life; it's an act of resistance. Many years ago, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) took the community’s customary land and cut down their farms for eucalyptus plantations. After APP harvested the eucalyptus, community members returned to the land and reclaimed it by planting their crops before APP could replant it with another monocrop pulp and paper plantation.

“We fight because once our parents were free to plant rice and rubber. In the past, we had no problem in our ancestral land. But after Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) came along, we were always faced with obstacles. Nowadays, every time we want to plant…men in uniforms arrive with orders from APP. Their constant presence, day and night, has made it difficult for us to farm for subsistence. They tore down and burned our huts. We still fight every day. We don’t know when we will succeed but we will continue to fight until the end.”

- Maymunah, Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia

Community members regularly face intimidation and harassment from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) security guards when farming their land, reclaimed from the company’s plantation.

“We built 15 farm huts on our land, which Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) burned, but we are committed to never back down from this fight until we regain our traditionally-owned land. To this day we must continue the fight against TPL. We must protect and maintain our traditionally-owned land that our ancestors have passed on to us. If I were to be shot dead, I’m ready.”

- Pungka Simamora, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

In 2005, the Indigenous community of Aek Lung mounted a resistance movement to reclaim their land from pulp giant Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL). Community members began planting their own crops on their land after it was cleared to provide for their livelihoods and feed their families. TPL responded with a series of tactics to intimidate and criminalize the community including: threats from armed police and military, killing crops, burning down farming huts, and arresting farmers.

“Indra Pelani was a great fighter. He understood the conflict between the Lubuk Mandarsah community and Asia Pulp & Paper. One example was when army officers came to block the farmers from working the fields. The company sent the army and when they came, Indra checked the army’s jurisdiction and confirmed that they did not have jurisdiction in Lubuk Mandarsah.”

- Zulkarnain, Indra Pelani’s best friend

Indra Pelani, a 23-year-old activist and farmer from Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia, was kidnapped, bound and brutally beaten to death by Asia Pulp & Paper’s (APP) plantation security guards on February 27, 2015. His body was found deposited on the side of the road the next day. Seven guards surrendered to the police following the incident. The community of Lubuk Mandarsah continues to remember and mourn his tragic loss.

“We hope that the Indonesian government will immediately recognize the rights of Indigenous communities and remove their lands from company concessions so that they can manage their traditionally-owned lands. Traditionally-owned land is the identity of the Batak Indigenous peoples and their clans. Without their traditionally-owned land they will lose their clans and future generations.”

- David Rajaguguk, organizer with KSPPM, a solidarity NGO based in the Lake Toba region of North Sumatra, Indonesia

Over 30 years ago, land was taken from Indigenous Batak communities and given to pulp and paper corporations with the promise that it would one day be returned. To this day, many Batak Indigenous communities continue to demand that the government and corporations return their traditionally-owned land which is inextricably linked to their cultural survival.

“If the men are fighting, the women must fight alongside them. That’s what I am doing, come rain or shine. I am fighting alongside my children. I am an emotional victim of Asia Pulp & Paper. We have not lost our lives, let Indra be the last one.”

- Yulmanesni, Indra Pelani’s adopted mother

Indra Pelani, a 23-year-old activist and farmer from Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia, was beaten to death by APP’s plantation security guards on February 27, 2015. The community of Lubuk Mandarsah continues to remember and mourn his tragic loss.

This photo shows paper giant Asia Pulp & Paper (APP)’s plantations on the Kampar Peninsula, Sumatra. In 2002, this was pristine rainforest and carbon rich peatlands––one of the biggest carbon sinks on the planet. Today, APP has drained and cleared over 52,000 hectares of forests and peatlands on the peninsula.

Peatlands safely store huge amounts of carbon, but when drained and burned for monocrop plantations, release massive amounts of carbon pollution into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. Deforestation and the burning of peatlands contribute to making Indonesia one of the largest climate polluters in the world.

“We know that this is our ancestral land. So no matter how much Asia Pulp & Paper may try to suppress us, we will never back down. We have been fighting here, farming here, and we don’t want any more disturbances from the company. APP must follow the community’s rules. We want peace. We don’t want to be bothered by the company ever again. We have had enough–no more.”

- Yulmanesni, Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia

Women are active in the resistance to pulp and paper companies’ land-grabbing. They play critical roles in the community’s decision making, the farming of reclaimed land, and in community healing.

“We keep fighting. We plant bananas, rice, rubber and other crops…We can only fight by planting.”

- Zulkarnain, Lubuk Mandarsah, Jambi Province, Indonesia

For the people of Lubuk Mandarsah in Jambi Province, Indonesia, farming is more than a way of life; it's an act of resistance. In 2003, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) took the community’s’ customary land and cut down their farms for eucalyptus plantations. After APP harvested the eucalyptus, community members returned to the land and reclaimed it by planting subsistence food crops before APP could replant it with another monocrop pulp and paper plantation.

“Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) came [onto our land] and planted eucalyptustrees for its plantation. After 6 years they harvested the eucalyptustrees, and the Indigenous communities united to fight the company on our traditionally-owned land. That was the beginning of our resistance to protect our land. Our resistance has been ongoing for about 10 years.”

- Pungka Simamora, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Over three decades ago, Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took traditionally-owned land across the Lake Toba region of Indonesia from Indigenous Batak communities without their consent. TPL transformed their land into pulp plantations, used to make material for everyday fabrics like rayon, viscose, and modal. This photo is a typical view of a TPL plantation, stretching for miles.

Lubuk Mandarsah is a community in the province of Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia. For generations, communities like this have depended on their lands and a healthy environment for community survival, as they provide a source for food, fresh water, and livelihoods. Keeping global forests standing is also critical for storing carbon and removing it from the atmosphere, helping to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. With 20% of the world’s forests on Indigenous lands, protecting the environment and human rights are inextricably linked.

“For a long time, this land has belonged to our ancestors. We came here to farm, but Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) intimidates us. We implore the government to release our land, so that we can farm and provide for our families and future generations.”

- Delima br Tobing, Aek Lung, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Over 30 years ago, land was taken from Indigenous Batak communities and given to pulp and paper corporations with the promise that it would one day be returned. To this day, many Indigenous Batak communities continue to demand that the government and corporations return their traditionally-owned land which is inextricably linked to their cultural survival.

“The forest is my hair, the mountain is my head, the water is my blood, the sand and all that God created in this land, it is a human, the same as me. If there's no longer any forests...in Indonesia, its like my head is being all cut off. That's what I have to tell...the government. All forests in Indonesia have to be returned home. Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) must be stopped. Do not let everyone die here and across Indonesia.”

In December 2016, Pandumaan-Sipituhuta became one of nine communities to have their customary land rights recognized by the Indonesian government. While this land was removed from the plantation of Toba Pulp Lestari, the community is still waiting for local legislation to pass so that they can acquire formal title to their land.

“The benzoin is the source of our life. If it does not exist people can not live here. It is the source of our livelihood and allows us to send our children to school. So we strongly objected when Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) cleared the forest...We continue to struggle, against all difficulties, until the last blood runs out, we should strive to fight for our land.”

- Kersi Sihite, Pandumaan-Sipituhuta, North Sumatra, Indonesia

For generations, Indigenous Batak communities have planted benzoin trees in their traditionally-owned forests and have sustainably harvested the tree’s fragrant resin. This culturally significant practice is often a primary source of cash income. Since pulp producer Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) took over communities’ land for its pulp plantations, many benzoin trees have been cut down, directly threatening the livelihoods of many communities.

In December 2016, Pandumaan-Sipituhuta became one of nine communities to have their customary land rights recognized by the Indonesian government. While this land was removed from the plantation of Toba Pulp Lestari, the community is still waiting for local legislation to pass so that they can acquire formal title to their land.

Photo of Kersi Sihite preparing a benzoin tree for harvest. Photo credit: Credit: Joel Redman / If Not Us Then Who?

Rainforest Action Network's Community Action Grants program has supported Non Governmental Organizations working with these and other communities impacted by the pulp and paper sector in Indonesia. Learn more about these and other small grants to frontline communities and partner organizations here.

All interviewees profiled on Beyond Paper Promises have given their free, prior, and informed consent to have their stories and images shared. Photos by Agusriady Saputra, unless otherwise noted.